Electrolytic apparatus.



H. OROSTON. ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS. "Q- Arrmomron If ILEID JULY 22, 1009.

. Patented No v.21, 1911.

Arm/mus H. ORO STON.

\ T ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

.v PPLIA I 33. A o TION nun JULY 22 1909 Patented NOV. 21 1911" 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. INVENTOR QLMYL/ ATTORNE Y8 -"decomposition of sodium chlorid solutions. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. k.

r zztvham it may concrrn:

[Be kn'ownth t I, HENRY Cnosrozy, a subject of theKing of Great Britain, iesi- 'fydentxof theborough of Brooklyn, county'of ,SKli ingS pcity andState of New York, have "Y nventedyc ertain new and useful Improve- "meats in Electrolytic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to an apparatus for use in electrolytic processes, particularly the 'Thechi'ef purpose of my invention is to secure'an etlicient'circulation of the mercury which forms a negative electrode.

Alspecific' embodiment of my invention is illujstrate'd in' the acc'ompanying drawings, nw'vhicli Figure, 1 is a Fig; 2 a

plan view'of the apparatus; longitudinal section of the apara tus ;and Fig. 3' isa cross section on line '3 3of Fig. 21! f ,f-Iheapp'aratu's comprises a tank A made ofsuitable'mat-erialsuch as cast iron and preferably formed with a depressed portion 'Af Within this tank and preferably at the -depre'ssed"portion'thereof are placed the anodechambers B. of which I have shown two, although-I'm'ight employ more of them, or only one if desired. These anode (3113111: bers may be'ma'd'e'of earthenware or concrete. The lower edges of these anode chambers are supported on end strips B so as to be spaced from the bottom of the tank A so that the mercury (that is to say the usual mixture of mercury and sodium amalgam) which is contained at the bottom of the tank and which rises above the lower edges of the anode chamber may circulate into and out of the anode compartments when compelled, as hereinafter described. lVithin each chamber B are placed one or more anodes C, generally made of carbon and suitably supported as by means of covers D. The current is applied to the anodes by suitable connections such as wires or strips E and the other pole of the source of electricity is connected with the tank A. In order to propel the movable mercurycathode through the anode compartments so as to secure a constant renewal of the mercury surface. I provide scrapers or agitators arranged to reciprocate in the tank a short distance above its bottom, preferably lengthwise of the tank. In the particular construction shown three scrapers are emiHEN RY-"QROSJTON, OF NEW role-K, N. -Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro GENERAL crrsMIcAn OFNEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, v

scraper H will drag COMPANY.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS.

v Specification Of Letters Patent. Pate11te(l,l\*ov.j21,f 191 '1. Application filed July 22,1909. Serial No. 509,008. "3

ployed, all connected with suitable mecha nism for reciprocating them horizontally in unison. The scrapers may all be secured to rods F arranged to slide in suitable guides G. and connected with operating mechanism (not shown) tmgivcthem reciprocating motion. The central scraper H is rigid, but the outer scrapers ll andHZ are hinged at J and J respectively and the lower ends of the corresponding support are so constructed that each of the scrapers will lieflatagainst its support and be practically rigidl therewith when the scraper moves in one direction, but when the scraper moves in the Opposite direction the scraper -will swing on its hinge and exertpractically-no propelling action on t hejmercu ry, being simply dragged on its'surfa ce. Itwill be seen that the scrapers HH"-' arehingcdto swing in opposite directions; that. is to say when the scrapers move toward the left; the and the scraper '11 will be operative while iwith th'e' scrapers moving toward the righ't,"tlic scraper'll will be operative and the scraper H will drag. Thethree scrapers have their Lower edges wedge-shaped and dipping somewhat below the surface of. the mercury: The length of the scrapers is pra'ctically equal to the inside width of the tank'A'as shown in Fi sll and 31' K indicates pipes through which the electrolyte such as a solution of sodium chlorid is supplied; L indicates an overflow pipe to maintain a constant level: M pipes for the'escape of the chlorin formed: and X pipes for discharging the caustic soda formed. Lugs O are provided at the sides of the tank A to receive leveling screws P.

It is wen understood that in operating apparatus of this character a layer of amalgam is formed on top of the mercury and that this layer interferes with the progress of the electrolytic action. By the circulation of mercury. which I accomplish. the amalgam is removed as soon as formed and fresh, clean surfaces of mercurv are brought into contact with the electrode. thus insuring a more perfect electrolytic action.

T. claim as my invention:

1. In electrolytic apparatus. the co bination with the anode and a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte. of means projecting into the cathode-forming body of mercury from above the surface thereof, said means being arranged'to reciprocate horizontally in the tank adjacent to its bottom, for circulating thecathodeforming body of mercury in the lower portion of the tank;

' 2. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination, with the anode and a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte, of a scraper arranged to reciprocate horizontally in the tank-adjacent, to its'bottom, and means for causing said scraper-to be inoperative during its' return" :movement.

3. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination, with the'anodeand a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte, of a' scraper arranged to reciprocate horizontally in the tank adjacent to itsbottox'n, and means whereby said scraper will be caused to occupy a raised, in-

operative position'during its return move-" contain the electrolyte, of two scrapers arranged to reciprocate horizontally in the tank djacent to its bottom, and means for causing one of said scrapers to be inoperati-ve during movement in one direction, and the other during movement in-the opposite direction. I

6. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination, with the anode and a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte, of two scrapers arranged to reciprocate horizontally in the tank adjacent to its bottom, and carriers to which said scrapers are hinged about horizontal axes, said carriers being provided with oppositely disposed stops to render said scrapers operative during movement in opposite directions. a

7. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination with the anode and atank adapted to contain the electrolyte, of a scraper mounted to reciprocate horizontally in-the tank adjacent to its bottom arranged to propel the mercury in both directions.

9. In electrolytic apparatus, the combination with a tank having a depressed portion, anode chambers in said depressed portion, of a scraper arranged to reciprocate between the anodev chambers and operative during movement in each direction, and additional scrapers arranged to reciprocate 'exteriorly of the anode chambers and each arranged to be operative during movement in one direction only. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

HENRY CROSTON. Witnesses I JOHN A. KEHLENBECK, G. V. RAsMUssE'N. 

